Federal ministers Malarndirri McCarthy and Penny Wong have defended the role of First Nations ambassador Justin Mohamed in the wake of attacks from the federal opposition, with Senator Wong saying Peter Dutton's attacks have diminished Australia on the world stage.
It reported the federal government, had spent more than $350,000 last financial year on nine overseas trips for the ambassador, mostly to the US and Europe. The role of the ambassador includes promoting Indigenous businesses and cultural organisations to overseas markets.
While the Telegraph reported the freedom of information request for the expenses had been "made by an unknown party", the Coalition later issued a statement saying the itineraries had been "obtained by the opposition".
Appearing on Sky News on Monday afternoon, Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, defended Ambassador Mohamed's role, saying the government was "very pleased" having him "helping First Nations businesses and trade internationally".
"We have incredible business opportunities that he's been able to work with, but also with our Pacific neighbours," she said.
"One of the things that our country does is obviously assist in Fiji [and] Papua New Guinea, in Vanuatu. So, working with, at that level, from First Nations to Indigenous people in those areas, has also been important, and I've had that opportunity to meet with them as well."
On Monday, Mr Dutton took to 2GB and said he would abolish the position on "day one" if he was elected Prime Minister, claiming that Australians "haven't got enough money in their own budget, but they've got the prime minister flying this guy around the world business class doing I don't know what".
"If it is the case that we win the next election, that position will be abolished on day one, and that money will be spent to help Australians who are struggling at the moment to keep a roof over their head, or to pay their electricity bill," the opposition leader said.
Senator McCarthy said she acknowledged the difficulty people all around the country faced when it came to cost of living before arguing: "I'm also mindful that we do have diplomats and ambassadors who do still represent our country throughout crises…in terms of cost of living, and Ambassador Mohamed is doing the same for First Nations businesses across the world."
National Indigenous Times reported recently that Indigenous tourism is growing at a significant rate, with a report highlighting significant growth opportunities for the sector, including increased interest from international visitors in Indigenous cultural tourism experiences, as well as an increase in revenue generated by First Nations tourism businesses.
View this post on Instagram
Currently in New York at the United Nations, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong was critical of Mr Dutton's comments.
"Well, it's disappointing that Mr Dutton doesn't see a role for Indigenous Australians in representing Australia, and we see again his character on display," she told reporters on the sidelines of UN meetings.
"He divides us at home and, frankly, he diminishes us in the world."
A spokesperson for Senator Wong defended Ambassador Mohamed's role, saying he had delivered results.
"First Nations diplomacy is a powerful element of our engagement with the Pacific given the strong First Nations cultural and historical connections with our region," she said.
"It is one of the ways we are rebuilding our relationship with the Pacific family after Mr Dutton and the Liberals disrespected Pacific leaders and neglected Pacific priorities over nine long years, leaving a vacuum for other countries to fill."
AAP reported the spokesperson added Ambassador Mohamed had helped to secure greater access for Indigenous people to the Human Rights Council, as well as being essential to helping deliver a groundbreaking treaty securing formal recognition of First Nations people's genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Mr Dutton is facing his own character test over the last week after he refused to outline who he supposedly apologised to in the Lebanese community for remarks about "Lebanese-Muslim" migration being a "mistake".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that, despite having claimed in 2023 to have apologised, community leaders can't recall him having done so.
Critics have said comments like those against Ambassador Mohamed are a 'dog-whistle' which have only increased since the failed Voice to Parliament referendum last year.
Writing on LinkedIn, Executive Director of the Yadha Muru Foundation and Director of Gidgee Group, Sean Gordon AM referenced the media reporting of Ambassador Mohammed and stated: "When we've run out of minorities or corporates to kick let's find ourselves another Blackfella."
"Even today as politicians and media groups attack the big banks and the big food retailers, they still find time to attack the poor old black fellas," the Wangkumarra/Barkindji man said.
"Why? Why are our people constantly scrutinised, aggressively attacked by politicians and media groups? Are our 3.4 per cent that big a threat to society? Why is there fear of the most marginalised people in the country?"
With AAP
